A survey by Age UK has revealed six and half per cent of people over 65 suffer from loneliness and eight per cent of people in that age bracket across the south-east of England feel cut off from society.

The results of the survey have been revealed as the charity urges people to donate their unwanted items to help them raise money to support older people and reduce loneliness by providing activities including coffee mornings, lunch clubs and exercise classes for retirees.

Items that can be donated to Age UK charity shops include quality clothes, shoes, books, accessories and home wares.